It's still sometimes seen flying in the windows of buildings, on the walls of some cafés and restaurants and brandished at public rallies against the war in Ukraine and rising geopolitical tensions on the European continent. The rainbow-colored flag emblazoned with the word "peace" in capital letters is a popular cultural reference and has been a symbol for Italian pacifists for over six decades. One can still see it in public spaces in 2025 – proof of the public's general opposition to the use and reinforcement of military force.
In Italy, the mere mention of the idea of peace, taken out of any historical or political context, can become a watchword in its own right. Even beyond big cities, opinion polls indicate that the vast majority of Italians are opposed to the rearmament of their country and of Europe.
A survey published on Thursday, March 20, by French magazine Le Grand Continent illustrated this: 62% of Italians surveyed believe that there are more urgent public expenditures than defense, against an average of 34% among the selection of European Union (EU) countries involved in the survey. They are also the most likely (at 53%, against 39% of the total) to reject the idea of extending a French nuclear deterrent to the whole of the EU.
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